McDouall sad to see Shearer go

Wanganui City Council chambers Hamish McDouall PHOTO/FILE

Former Labour leader David Shearer, who stood down yesterday, was a great leader ... but not necessarily of a political party.

That was the opinion of Wanganui Labour candidate Hamish McDouall, who also said he was saddened by the news of Mr Shearer's resignation.

"David Shearer is a truly good man, and an excellent leader, but maybe not of a political party.

"He would have made an excellent Prime Minister, because he's not about hype and public relations - he deals with the issues," Mr McDouall said.

Mr Shearer had most likely resigned because of advice from his close colleagues.

It would open the way for a "fresh face" - and Mr McDouall had some ideas about who should take over as leader, with Mr Shearer's deputy Grant Robertson, David Cunliffe, and first-term MP Andrew Little all possibles.

Mr McDouall, who stood unsuccessfully for Labour in the Whanganui electorate in 2008 and 2011, also said Jacinta Adern and Shane Jones could be "dark horses" in the leadership race.

Whanganui National party MP and government minister Chester Borrows said Mr Shearer was "a real nice guy" but lacked "political nose and political judgment".

"John Key and the Government have ratings still at election level and the Greens are eating into Labour, so they had to do something drastic to gain some traction."